Benjamin C. Evans, Jr. was born 14 March l924 in Crawfordsville. Indiana.
He graduated from Crawfordsville High School. While in high school, Ben
attended the Culver Military Academy Summer Camp and was a member of the
famed Black Horse Troop. His final summer, he was selected as troop commander.
Following graduation from high school. Ben attended Wabash College for
a year. His summers at Culver undoubtedly influenced Ben's decision to
go to West Point, and so he joined the Class of 1946 on the banks of the
Hudson on 1 July 1943.

His roommates recall Ben as a model cadet,
receiving few demerits. Academically, he was brilliant in the non-math
areas, but something of a "goat" in math. He was a leading member of the
riding team and an outstanding jumper. He had a beautiful tenor voice and
was a most important member of both the Glee Club and the Cadet Chapel
Choir. His classmates in the 1st Regiment well remember the serenades by
Ben, Tom Campbell and Henry Bolz around the Clock Tower on those warm spring
and summer evenings. As a cadet, Ben demonstrated the characteristics that
were to distinguish him throughout his career. He was easy going and calm
and unflappable under stress. He was such a nice guy that sometimes his
roommates picked on him, as roommates will. On one occasion, Ben was out
of the room just a few minutes before an expected room inspection. So,
his two roommates braced themselves against the door to hold Ben in the
hallway, expecting Ben to panic when he couldn't budge the door. Across
the hall lived Hank Foldberg, All American end on the Army team. Ben enlisted
his aid. His roommate can to this day hear Hank say. "Mr. Evans, please
stand out of the way!" With a rush, Hank took out the top of the
door; and Ben calmly entered the room leaving his roommate, who was room
orderly, to explain to the Tac how the door got smashed.

Going into the Infantry after graduation, Ben
went to Japan after the Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. After a
year as company commander and battalion level staff he was selected as
aide de camp to Brigadier General Eugene L. Harrison (USMA '23), the Chief
of Staff, I Corps. It was during this assignment that he met Jan King,
the general's step- daughter. He and Jan were married in 1952. Ben always
said that he married into the Army. Jan had attended kindergarten and the
first three grades at West Point. Her father was USMA '28 and she had a
brother and two uncles who were graduates. From Japan, Ben went to Washington,
DC, where he was aide de camp to the commanding general, Military District
of Washington and White House military aide. He again traveled to Japan
where he became chief, Plans and Policy, Psychological Warfare, for Eighth
Army (Japan). This was followed by an assignment as Chief, Political Intelligence,
Eighth Army (Korea). At that time, there was an offer broadcast to North
Korea of $250.000 for any pilot who would fly a MIG into UN hands. This
was Ben's brainchild. He was thoroughly intrigued by intelligence work
and decided that it was the field he wanted to pursue. He was selected
to attend Columbia University where he received his master's in public
administration with a concentration in foreign affairs.

In 1956, Ben came out on the "outstanding list"
for early promotion to major. By his time however, he had made up his mind
that he wanted to spend all his time in intelligence work, an option not
available to him on active duty. So in 1957, Ben resigned his commission
to join the Central Intelligence Agency. He hoped that through this avenue
he could prevent wars so others would not have to fight them.

Ben's first five years with the Agency were
spent in staff and line positions including two years in Cuba where he
helped close the embassy. His specialties were political and paramilitary
operations. This was followed by an assignment as deputy director and then
director of an annual multi-million dollar program with resident managers
and programs in several foreign countries.

In 1981, Ben retired from the Agency having
completed twelve consecutive years as executive secretary to the director
and deputy director, Central Intelligence Agency, as well as executive
secretary, Central Intelligence Agency. The length of time Ben spent in
this key position is remarkable. He provided expert continuity as Schlesinger
replaced Helms as director, then as Colby replaced Schlesinger, Bush-Colby
and Turner-Bush. He was there for the first three months of Casey's tenure.
Richard Helms said of Ben, "He always had his eye on the ball." To say
that Ben's position was critical is an understatement. In addition to acting
as chief of staff for the director and deputy director, Ben carried the
chief administrative responsibility for CIA's interaction with the White
House, Cabinet and other departments and agencies. His position called
for skill, experience, judgment, diplomacy, firmness and discretion. These
were all characteristics that Ben had in abundance. He garnered immense
respect from his superiors, peers and subordinates. The chances for errors
with grievous consequences were very real, but Ben never faltered. His
calmness under pressure was never more of an asset than in his position
at the Agency. That he served six successive directors and deputies under
four administrations is ample testimony to his effectiveness. When Ben
retired in May 1981, the Director of Central Intelligence presented him
with the CIA's highest award for service, the Distinguished Intelligence
Medal.

Ben was the quintessential family man. The
three most important women in his life were his beloved wife, Jan and their
two daughters, Karla and Louise. All their vacations were family vacations
with the two girls. At the CIA, his secretary was always instructed that
if either of his two daughters called he was to be interrupted. Ben was
happiest to he on his farm in Middleburg, Virginia, with his wife and daughters.
He was content to be alone with his "three gals." Ben's enjoyment of the
country and nature at his farm represented the culmination of a lifelong
dream. When he applied to Wabash College in 1942, before entering West
Point, he wrote, "The fact that I was surely born with an ardent love for
the out-of-doors and for animals has been a means for personal satisfaction.
This increasing love of the out-of-doors is responsible for a great part
of the happiness in my life. I regularly feel the need of it. I find it
both stimulating and soothing." That he was able to be in the country with
his loving family after his retirement was greatly satisfying to Ben.

Those who knew Ben appreciated his terrific
sense of humor. In December 1986, one month before his illness, Ben was
dressed in "black tie" en route to Washington to meet Jan to go to the
Symphony Ball. Knowing he wouldn't get dinner until very late, he stopped
at a McDonald's fast food outlet on the way. Another patron, an attractive
woman, was overwhelmed by this handsome gentleman all dressed up at McDonald's
and came over to tell him how elegant he looked, With a twinkle in his
eye, Ben replied in a friendly but serious manner "I always dress for dinner."

In October 1986, Ben discovered that his liver
function tests were elevated during a routine checkup. The doctor didn't
know why, but Ben restricted his diet and was relieved when there was am
improvement in December. In January of 1987, Ben became jaundiced and follow-up
examinations showed a malignant tumor. An operation in February disclosed
additional cancer of the pancreas for which there was no operation nor
treatment that would save his life. Ben died early in the morning of 23
September 1987 at home with his beloved family. Services for Ben were held
at the Washington Cathedral with his classmates serving as honorary pallbearers.
On Ben's grave at Arlington is inscribed his credo "Duty, Honor, Family,
Country"'

Each person who contributed input to this aside
had one common phrase with which they described Ben Evans. "He was a true
gentle man." After that universal description, his friends and family remembered
Ben in many ways. He was completely honest in all his dealings. He was
modest and unassuming, never envying anyone. Ben was quietly and pleasantly
his own man. He had no big ego; he was always a real team player. When
needed, he could be firm and a great leader. No one disliked him. He was
a great conciliator. He was everything that can be described in a genuinely
good human being.

As Benjamin C. Evans, Jr. joins "The Long Gray
Line" his family and classmates can remember that he was a wonderful, concerned
and caring husband, father and friend. We will miss him very much.